Who are the World Cup 26 underdogs and debutants?

While a World Cup is an opportunity to pit the biggest nations in the world against each other, it is also a wonderful chance to experience nations and players we very rarely if ever see.

While the likes of World Cup regular big dogs England, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, France and co are busily planning their way to glory, the likes of Cape Verde, Haiti and Curaçao are excitedly preparing to make their own mark at FIFA World Cup 2026 .

Next summer's World Cup is bigger than ever, expanding from 32 teams to 48 and including a round of 32 in the knockout stage.

The expansion has allowed several nations to debut in the world's greatest competion, nations who fans of larger football nations may not know much about.

DAZN News's James Ghirarduzzi has been taking a look at some of these so called underdogs.

New Zealand 

FIFA Ranking - 86

The All Whites make their third appearance at football's greatest stage - their last being the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Remarkably, New Zealand were the only team to go undefeated in South Africa, drawing all three of their games.

Three missed qualfiications and six managers later, the Kiwis return to punch above their weight.

Road to glory

New Zealand topped their group in the 2026 FIFA World Cup OFC qualification, winning all three game against Tahiti, Vanuatu and Samoa.

They then confirmed their trip to North America by beating Fiji and New Caledonia in the knockout stage.

Manager - Darren Bazeley

Born in Northampton, the former Wolverhampton and Watford right back has worked his way up the ranks, coaching New Zealand at U17, U20 and U23 level, before being promoted to first team manager in July 2023.

Bazeley likes to set up his team in a compact manner, traditionally using 4-2-3-1 and 4-1-4-1. He prides his team on their organisation and defensive discipline, and likes to exploit space with direct football.

One To Watch - Chris Wood

Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images

One of the easier ones to decide.

Wood has suffered this season from managerial changes at Nottingham Forest, with new coach Sean Dyche seaming to prefer Igor Jesus. 

However, the bagsman netted an impressive 20 times in the Premier League last season, guiding Forest to European football for the first time in 30 years.

Haiti 

FIFA Ranking - 84

A miraculous journey. Despite playing their home matches 500 miles away in a different country (Curaçao) due to internal confilict, Haiti have made it to their second ever World Cup - the last being Germany 74.

They lost all three games and exited in the group stages. This time with the new round of 32, they can dare to dream.

Road to glory

Haiti came second in their round 2 CONCACAF qualfication group, losing only once. This meant they progressed to the final round of qualification.

Against the odds, Les Grenadiers topped their final round group, getting the better of established football nations such as Costa Rica and Honduras, and securing their ticket to the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Manager - Sébastien Migné

A former midfielder who had a short spell at Leyton Orient, the Frenchman has been far more impactful in his managerial career, guiding the likes of Kenya, Cameroon and DR Congo.

Migné is tactically adaptive. Depending on the match, he likes to switch between one-striker and two-striker formations. With great pace upfront, Migné always enocurages his side to focus on agressive and direct transitions rather than possesion-based football.

One To Watch - Jean‐Ricner Bellegarde

After coming up through the ranks in Ligue 1 at RC Lens and Strasbourg, Bellegarde has established himself as a regular starter for Premier League side Wolverhampton.

Since joining the Wanderers in the 23/24 season, the Haitian has impressed Premier League fans with his impressive ball-carrying qualities and ability to play anywhere across the midfield. His directness and aggression is key to Haiti's transition-based style of play.

Curaçao

FIFA Ranking - 82

The first of our World Cup debutants on this list.

Expect Curaçao to be many fans' 'second team' this tournament. Not only are they the smallest country by area to have ever qualified for a World Cup, but by population as well - having approximately 156,000 inhabitants.

Road To Glory

Curaçao went flawless in their CONCACAF round 2 qualification group games, winning all four and beating Haiti in the process.

Then in the final group round, they topped their group and went unbeaten again, playing Trinidad and Tobago, Jamiaca and Bermuda.

Manager - Dick Advocaat

A man who should not need introducing.

Formerly manager of Sunderland, the Dutchman has had an illustrious managerial career, winning 10+ titles including a Europa League and UEFA Super Cup with Zenit St. Petersburg.

This World Cup will be Advocaat's third, previosuly taking the Netherlands (1994) and South Korea (2006) to the tournament.

One To Watch - Tahith Chong

Tahith Chong is a tricky and agile winger who loves to cut onto his preffered left foot.

Chong made 16 appearances for Manchester United, and since then he has had spells at various clubs such as Luton Town and Club Brugge.

Currently at Sheffield United, Chong's season has been riddled with injury problems. When he has played, he has starred - bagging a brace for Curaçao against Bermuda in a crucial qualification win.

Ghana

FIFA Ranking - 72

Historically, Ghana are certinaly not the underdogs that belong in pot 4.

They have won AFCON four times and produced some of the games' brightest stars such as Essien, Abedi pele and Kuffour.

After failing to qualify for the 2025 African Cup of Nations, the Black Stars have turned their fortunes around and will be featuring at the world's grandest stage for a fifth time.

Road To Glory

Ghana topped their Qualification group, meaning they went straight throguh to the FIFA World Cup 2026.

They sealed their fate in October, when Mohammed Kudus scored in a 1-0 win over Comoros.

Manager - Otto Addo

After spending his career there as a player, Addo spent time in Germany as a talent coach for Dortmund and Gladbach.

He became assistant coach at Dortmund in 2020 and won a DFB-Pokal during his time there.

In 2022 he was appointed Ghana head coach, making him the first Ghanain to play for and manage his nation.

One To Watch - Antoine Semenyo

Getty Images

Semenyo has been spectacular to watch, and is widely regarded as one Europe's top performers so far this season.

With nine goal contributions for Bournemouth in the Premier League this season, The Ghanaian's performances have created transfer links to the likes of Liverpool.

If Ghana are to do well this tournament, they need Antoine Semenyo at his dazzling best.

Cape Verde

FIFA Ranking - 68

Their first World Cup ever, Cape Verde were the smallest country to qualify for a World Cup by land - untill fellow pot 4 member Curaçao qualified one month later.

Road To Glory

To the surprise of many, Cape Verde topped their World Cup Qualification CAF group, meaning they went straight to the finals in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Out of the ten games they played, they only lost once, picking up a famous 1-0 victory against football ginats Cameroon, who they also managed to finish above.

Manager - Pedro Leitão Brito

Nicknamed 'Bubista' after his place of birth, Boa Vista, Brito won the 2025 CAF Coach of the Year award for his performances with Cape Verde.

He joined them in 2020 and since then has taken them to two AFCON's, reaching the quarter finals in 2023.

One To Watch - Dailon Rocha Livramento

Dailon Livramento was Cape Verde's top scorer in their qualification run, and netted the opener in their 3-0 win over Eswatini which secured their World Cup spot.

Currently at Portugese side Casa Pia AC (on loan from Hellas Verona), Livramento has an abundance of pace which could cause problems for future opponents.

Jordan 

FIFA Ranking - 66

The third and final World Cup debutants on this list.

Road To Glory

Jordan endured two group phases in AFC 2026 World Cup Qualification.

In their first, they topped a group consisting of Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Pakistan, only losing one game.

They then came second behind South Korea in the next group phase, securing them an automatic spot in the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Manager - Jamal Sellami

Jamal Sellami has previosly been to a world cup before - but with Morocco, and as a player, when he was included in their 1998 World Cup squad.

As a manger he has established a respectable CV, coaching various teams in Moroccan football.

Since joining Jordan in 2024, Sellami has got the best out his side by playing a pragmatic style of football, setting up his side in a deep and compact structure, often using three centre-backs.

Much credit has to be given to Sellami, as Jordan have employed some big names before such as Harry Redknapp and Ray Wilkins, but never made the World Cup until now.

One To Watch - Mousa Tamari

In a side which will rely heavily on their defensive structure and prowess, Mousa Tamari will be the one Jordanians will look towards to produce that moment of magic.

Currenlty at Stade Rennes in Ligue 1, Jordan's number 10 possesses skill and flair on the wing, as well as the ability to play several positions across the pitch.

Keep an eye out on him.

When does the FIFA World Cup 2026 begin?

The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be hosted in the U.S.A, Canada and Mexico , and will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

The first game will be at the Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, where Mexico will kick-off World Cup action.

The final we be played at the Met life Stadium in New York.

104 games are set to be played across sixteen cities; 11 in the United States, three in Mexico and two in Canada.

Key Dates:​

• Group stages: June 11-27
• Round of 32 : June 28-July 3
• Round of 16 : July 4-7
• Quarter-finals : July 9-11
• Semi-finals : July 14-15
• Bronze final: July 19
• Final: July 19

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